Optimists to launch anti-bullying campaign
The various Optimist clubs across Barbados and the Caribbean would soon be embarking on a campaign aimed at stamping out bullying and other forms of school violence from our schools – both primary and secondary.
This is according to the Governor of the Optimist International Caribbean District, Calvin Hunter who spoke to the media on the sidelines of their Third Quarter Regional Meeting recently at the 3 Ws Oval, University of the West Indies (U.W.I.), Cave Hill Campus.
He stated that this campaign would soon be on multimedia formats including both the traditional media such as the print and electronic as well as social media.
It would have the late, Jamaican Reggae Musician, Bob Marley’s hit song, ‘Get Up, Stand Up’ as its theme song as the lyrics entail exactly what they as members in the Optimist Clubs are trying to do, which is to get up and take a stand for these children who are being bullied and it would be spread across five islands – Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grand Cayman and Jamaica, stated the Caribbean District Governor.
They already have the cooperation of various stakeholders such as the media and corporate organizations in some of the islands in this regard and they are also hoping to get superstars such as Barbados born singer, actress and businesswoman, Robyn Rihanna Fenty on board.
“So our programme would be spreading messages, doing public service announcements, (getting) superstars – hopefully Rihanna would come on board for Barbados, but we have other stars from the Caribbean, the corporate and the media are already on board. So we want to spread the message that the Optimists are here for the children, we are here to help them and we are here as big brothers, big sisters, moms and fathers for our children.”
Hunter acknowledged that bullies do not see their actions as an abuse of power when they hurt others with their words, but instead view it as a form of joking around and the person on receiving end, not being able to ‘take a joke,’ ‘being sensitive’ or ‘getting defensive.’ He stated that this is why their campaign would touch on areas that are not usually covered in bullying campaigns such as the aforementioned and physical bullying and it would target both the bullies as well as the ones being bullied.
“...Our campaign is geared at both the bullies and the persons being bullied because more often than not, the message really goes out just to one party. Our message would be for both parties to help them to understand what is bullying and as I said, the definition that I gave earlier which is bullying is a hurtful or harmful act in a relationship and repeated where there is an imbalance of power – and if you think of it, once that person is being hurt, it means it is bullying. It is not a joke anymore.”